Anchorage element for partition panels



.Ap 1931- E F. s. ROBINSON 1,802,035

ANCHORAGE ELEMENT FOR PARTITION PANELS Filed June 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS April 21, 1931. F. s. ROBINSON ANCHORAGE ELEMENT FOR PARTITIOfi- PANELS Filed June 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v ATTORNEY} Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE ANCHORAGE ELEMENT FOR PARTITION PANELS Application filed June a5,

This invention relates to a convenient and easily operable means for anchoring more or less temporary partition elements within a larger building space ofpermanent. structural dimensions, and has for its object. an improved organization of parts by means of which the sub-dividing partitions, generally of wood panel and glass construction, though plaster partitions as well may be thus install'ed, may be securely fixed in position relatively to the ceiling and side walls of the large space, with a minimum of impairment of or injury to the plaster or other finish of these surfaces. The desirability of such a construction is emphasized by the frequent necessity, due to the exigencies raised by changes of tenants and adaptation of the space in question to their several requirements which has come to be looked upon as more or less of a'n ecessary evil in connection with the renting of office space, and my improved construction herein to be disclosed aims at the efiectuation of this with a minimum of observable damage to the plaster along the lines where the partitions are installed, and from which it may sooner or later be desirable to remove these more or less temporary partitions.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional elevational View showing a partition anchored inrelation to the floor and ceiling of a building space by means of my improved construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective of one form of my improved construction, showing the op erative parts more or less withdrawn from or disassociated from one another.

Figure 3 is a large scale elevational View, partly in section, of the top portion of the partition, carrying my improved correlating element, and of the adjacent ceiling, with the anchorage element shown in full lines in projected position, one of the actuating wedge Vmembers being shown elevationally 1930. Serial No. 463,787.

because this figure is taken angularly to the showing in Figure 1. V

Figure 4 is a similar large scale elevational View taken from the same direction asFigure 1, and bringing out the overlapping relation'of the wedge members as they are inserted.

Figure 5 shows a slightly modified form of partition anchoring element, adapted for a rectangular upright rather than for the specially formed upright shown in the lower portion of Figure 2. v

Figure 6 is a largely sectional elevational View of the construction shown in igure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the anchorage plate or mat, which, when its edges are over bent, is adapted to engage the top of the upright shown in Figure 5.

' Figure 8 is a perspective of'the box or shell member which is anchoringly attached to the plate or mat piece just mentioned, for the slidable engagement therein of theceiling engaging part of my improved construction. Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of construction wherein angular corner posts or guide ways are employed in place of the fully surrounding shell or box shown particularly in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive. 1 At A in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is shown the top of a stud or'pilaster, either metallic or wooden, which is designed to be placedatselected intervals along a more or less temporary partition panel, as contrasted'with the permanent interior structural walls of a building, and B indicates a suitably formed and marginally overbent sheet metal, or other suitable element, which may be fitted thereoverwith its depending ears or flanges 0 adapted for connection,by means of nails or bolts driven through the holes C, with the top of the partition or of one of its pilasters. Integrated therewith, as for example, by means of the tongues D, which, as brought out in Figure 8, may be passed through corresponding slotsD" in the web of this crown plate at the top of the partition pillar is a shell or housing E, which may be of any size or cross sectional form desired, being herein illustrated as rectangular. \Vithin this shell or housing is slidably positioned a block or locking piece F, the upper portion G of which is of pyramidal or upwardly pointing form, while its lower edges, which normally rest upon the top of the plate B, are preferably slightly rounded as indicated at F in Figure 4.

\Vhen the partition panel as a whole has been located in the desired position within the building space whose subdivision is desired, a pair of cooperating wedge elements, as J and K, are slipped through the open space H on either of two opposite sides of the shell E, and, facilitated by the curvature of the bottom edges of the block F, driven therebeneath and toward one another, with the result that the block F a whole is upwardly projected, so that its pyramidal top portion G- is anchoringly forced onto the plaster or other material T forming the ceiling of the building space to a degree amply adequate to hold the parti tion pillar and its adjacent panels in desired fixed position. Naturally, after the wedges J and K have thus been driven to a position which results in the elevation oi: the anchorage block to the desired degree of penetration into the plaster, they will remain in such position until positively withdrawn, as for example, when the partition is to be removed, but when withdrawn they permit the block F to drop from its anchoring position relatively to the plaster, or, if it does not do so of its own weight, a slight tapping against the sides thereof proves sufficient to effect this. The relative position of the block, ii'lcluding its pyramidal top portion, before and after its projection into the plaster in the manner described is indicated in dotted lines and full lines respectively in Figures 3 and 4.

In the modified form of construction, illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 particularly, the same principle of operation is followed, the only difference being that the flanged plate L there shown is so contoured that its depending flange portions L are adapted for engagement over the top of a rectangular upright or pilaster.

It will of course be obvious that not only may variations in the shape of the shell or housing be indulged in, as contrasted with the specific contouring herein illustrated, but as well a single wedge might be employed instead of the pair of wedges herein illustrated, although it is my opinion that the effectiveness or at least the convenience of action of the parts herein described would be reduced by such variation. l urthermore, a fully surrounding shell or box for holding the projeotable block in upwardly slidable position is not necessary. So long as its movement is limited to an upward or a downward direction, almost any confining means would be sufiicient, as for example the cross-sectionally angular posts N shown in plan View in Figure 9, between the members of each pair of which a bar or bridge as P would preferably extend, to adequately hold the wedges in desired operative relation.

What I claim is:

1. An anchorage element for a partition pillar, having, in combination with a supporting plate adapted to engage the end of a par tition pillar, an open-topped shell element supported thereby, a block member slidably positioned within said shell element, and wedge members adapted to subjacently engage said block member to force the same upwardly relatively to its normal position of rest within said shell element into position of holding engagement with respect to a permanent portion of a building structure.

2. An anchorage element for a relatively temporary partition pillar, comprising a shell member adapted for attachment to the end of such pillar, a projectable anchorage block positioned within such shell in position of potential operative engagement with a selected surface portion of a relatively permanent structure, and laterally insertable wedging means to operatively engage the lower end of said block, whereby the latter may be projected lengthwise of itself and of said shell member into holding relation by its outer end against and into the selected surface portion of the permanent structure.

3. Means for effecting the anchorage of a relatively temporary partition unit in desired relation to a selected portion of a permanent building structure, comprising a plate adapted to operatively engage the end of a pillar portion of such temporary partition, a laterally and superiorly apertured shell member supported by said plate, a block member loosely resting within said shell in position of potential projection outwardly from said shell for the operative engagement of its end with the selected location on the permanent structural surface, and means engaging subjacently of said block to effect its adequate projection relatively to said shell.

l. In combination with a superiorly and laterally apertured shell having a base portion adapted for attachment to the end of a partition pillar, a projectable block member normally positioned within the confines of said shell, and means adapted to be inserted through the lateral apertures in said shell whereby the block member may be partially ejected from said shell'to effect the operative engagement of its outer end with that portion of a permanent building structure with which the relatively temporary association of the partition pillaris desired.

5. In combination with a relatively tem porary partition element and a selected portion of a relatively permanent structural surface relatively to which it is desired to locate the former, an open topped holding shell positioned on the edge of the temporary partition element, positioned within said holding shell, and wedge elements adapted to be driven between the edge of said partition element and the adjacent surface of said anchorage block to effect its partial projection from said shell into position of engagement by its outer end with the selected portion of the relatively permanent structural surface.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

FRANK S. ROBINSON. 

